Top considerations for family life during COVID-19
COVID-19 has affected family life in many ways. It can be hard to estimate just how far-reaching its effects are. It can affect an entire family. As soon as one person has the virus or is in danger of getting it, measures protecting other family members must be taken. Besides that, the pandemic can negatively affect mental health. With that in mind, here are several steps you can take to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on your family life:
Think about what to do with children
Youngest members of the family are often a priority during a crisis, because unless the children are taken care of, it is hard to think about anyone else. Will your children be going to school or nursery? The evidence suggests that the risk of transmission among young children of kindergarten age is much lower, but it is important to think about what social distancing measures apply in such places.
Decide how you will balance your work
Working from home has become the norm for many people, but this does not always mean work is easier. Sometimes working from home can mean that there is a need to shut children out in order to get work done, or that Zoom conferences must be done while soothing a crying baby. This can actually make it trickier to balance family life with work – although you are saving some time by not having to commute, and not needing to figure out how to do the school run while trying to beat rush hour! Think how you would like to work from home amid all this.
Take care of older family members
Older members of the family are more vulnerable to COVID-19 – indeed being old is arguably the greatest risk factor for the virus. This can make it hard because while grandparents should often be shielding, they may have childcare duties or live with the family. This is where it is good to think of a way to keep them safe, while not depriving them of a good quality of life, facilities or social life – for example, staying in a place like Belmont Village is worth considering.
Make time for you
But of course, it’s not just about taking care of everyone else. It is important to squeeze some time into your day for yourself – as the old saying goes, you need to apply your own oxygen mask before helping others. If you are not taking care of your mental health, you will not be able to help anyone else. Even though it feels hard to make time for yourself at a time like this, it is all the more important during a pandemic to do little things that relax you. It might be lighting some candles, and putting on a face mask. It might be watching some TV. Just make sure that even while you think about your kids’ routine, keeping the grandparents staying safe, and how to balance work around everything else – that you take some time out.
